David Price, who has allowed at least four earned runs in six of his 17 starts for the Boston Red Sox, said after a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday that he expects much more of himself.

"I'm just putting us behind the eight ball early on in games," Price said. "I'm not setting the tone the way that I need to. It's tough. I'm so much better than this. I've just got to get better. It's crushing me right now, but I'll get there."

The Red Sox are paying Price $30 million this season and $217 million over the next seven years.

"Absolutely. It's unacceptable," Price said. "I don't care if I'm a rookie. It's unacceptable."